My Red Belly Piranhas 7-8"

[CthulhuReborn]

These are my very shy red belly piranhas and I mean VERY shy


They hate people like they cracked the lid on their tank by hitting the heater that hard lol they are in a 55 gallon 48"x16 I think maybe a bit longer or wider

https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMi4-O0pbvI Sorry for background noise and someone help with my tank design what should I add?

 

[CthulhuReborn]

Sorry it won't let me post the picture I'll make a YouTube of them currently waiting on YouTube

https/www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMi4-O0pbvI Sorry for background noise

 

[AmtotheBurr]

I believe they recommend like 20 gallons of water per fish. How many are in there?

 

[RobRocksFishTank]

That tank is way too small for them. They are extremely stressed. You think they hate people because they don't have any shelter to hide in when they feel threatened. Without any place to hide they are going to feel threatened all the time.

 

[CthulhuReborn]

It's a 55 with 3 fish

That tank is way too small for them. They are extremely stressed. You think they hate people because they don't have any shelter to hide in when they feel threatened. Without any place to hide they are going to feel threatened all the time.

what should I add to the tank then? Even when they had places to hid in their grow out tank they still were like that

 

[RobRocksFishTank]

IMHO, a 55 gal tank is not appropriate for one of them. There is nothing you can do for the three of them except get a much bigger tank so that you can provide a proper environment.

 

[CthulhuReborn]

Um 55 gallons for 3 red belly piranhas is fine according to almost every website lol the rule is 20 gallons per red belly so it is just a little bit to small

 

[Goggy]

I agree the fish are in a tank too small, and there are not enough plants. piranhas live in the amazon so there are lots of plants and driftwood, so i think you would want alot of real plants for the fish to hide in. Ive also heard piranhas like to live together in groups, they are social fish so i think maybe like 2 more piranhas? But ive never kept piranhas so i cant really say anything.
20 gallon per piranha? you have obviously been on petco sites.

 

[RobRocksFishTank]

Those websites are misleading. They do not stress how important it is to keep them in schools. For most schooling fish, six would be a bare minimum. Piranha are fast moving fish, so they need a longer tank. I'm fairly certain your fish are having collisions with the glass from time to time. It's because they do not have enough room or cover to feel safe.
 
I would appreciate it if you didn't talk to me like I was an idiot. Um and lol when you are refuting what I am saying are a bit insulting.

 

[CthulhuReborn]

I was never saying you were an idiot but what I was saying is 3 piranhas bare minimum tank is 50 gallons. And i got these fish after doing hours of research and when I bought them I bought the 55 gallon and I agree if they had a 70 gallon it would be better but after all the research i did they do fine in a 55 gallon and in as asking what to add like what kinda of hiding spots in the tank and I will prob add more plants

I agree the fish are in a tank too small, and there are not enough plants. piranhas live in the amazon so there are lots of plants and driftwood, so i think you would want alot of real plants for the fish to hide in. Ive also heard piranhas like to live together in groups, they are social fish so i think maybe like 2 more piranhas? But ive never kept piranhas so i cant really say anything.
20 gallon per piranha? you have obviously been on petco sites.

ok it says if you have a group of piranhas its 20 gallons per piranha if you have 3+ but a minimum for one is a 30 gallon tank

 

[RobRocksFishTank]

If you did that much research, you were looking in the wrong places and got some very bad information. Have a look at their natural environment and tell us if what you have even remotely resembles it. Then think about how big these guys can get, 12 inches. That's 3 feet of fish in a 4 foot tank. Sorry, a 55 is not even adequate for just one. It would barely be able to turn around.

 

[AmtotheBurr]

I think my concern is that you were looking for other tankmates and I think they're probably pushing limits as is. Maybe add more cover (lots more) and see how these do. Maybe their behavior will improve

 

[CthulhuReborn]

If you did that much research, you were looking in the wrong places and got some very bad information. Have a look at their natural environment and tell us if what you have even remotely resembles it. Then think about how big these guys can get, 12 inches. That's 3 feet of fish in a 4 foot tank. Sorry, a 55 is not even adequate for just one. It would barely be able to turn around.

what website have you been looking at lol most websites say 10-13 inches ️️max size minimum tank size for 3 50 gallons lol

 

[Bubbelzzz]

I guess the so called gallon or liter rules are not appropriate to use. It doesn't tell you anything about the tank sizes that are required for the fish. 
 
But, I do agree with the point that the tank isn't big enough. The fish can barely turn, especially on high speeds, so the depth should be larger. The length is another concern, If I'm correct then your tank is 120cm long. Which is just too small for these large fish. In short, They need an upgrade, very quick.
 
Furthermore, this shy behavior is typical for shoaling fish that aren't with enough numbers. So as before mentioned, there should be more of them. If you would add more, the shy behavior should also become less.
 
At last, you could place moor cover and dim the lights for a bit. Most rivers in the amazon have a lot of trees on the banks. This Creates a lot of shade, where fish can hide between plants, roots or branches. So adding more cover might get them less shy as well.

 

[CthulhuReborn]

I think my concern is that you were looking for other tankmates and I think they're probably pushing limits as is. Maybe add more cover (lots more) and see how these do. Maybe their behavior will improve

oh lol I was asking what to add NOT FISH but like plants etc

I guess the so called gallon or liter rules are not appropriate to use. It doesn't tell you anything about the tank sizes that are required for the fish. 
 
But, I do agree with the point that the tank isn't big enough. The fish can barely turn, especially on high speeds, so the depth should be larger. The length is another concern, If I'm correct then your tank is 120cm long. Which is just too small for these large fish. In short, They need an upgrade, very quick.

Furthermore, this shy behavior is typical for shoaling fish that aren't with enough numbers. So as before mentioned, there should be more of them. If you would add more, the shy behavior should also become less.
 
At last, you could place moor cover and dim the lights for a bit. Most rivers in the amazon have a lot of trees on the banks. This Creates a lot of shade, where fish can hide between plants, roots or branches. So adding more cover might get them less shy as well.

Well everywere says a 55 gallon will be fine to house 3 of them but it's recomended minimum 20 gallons per adult RBP so yes I am agreeing saying it is a little to small but almost every forum that I have found says 55 will work fine for them